BackgroundThe Nakajima Hayabusa ("Peregrine Falcon" in
Japanese) was the standard Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) fighter aircraft during the Pacific War. It had incredible
maneuverability and a steep fast rate of climb. Vulnerable to enemy fire,
and its armament was insufficient for bringing down
more
heavily armored Allied aircraft.

Ki-43-I (Type 1, Model I) Powered by a Nakajima Ha-25 radial engine with a two-bladed engine. Armed with two 7.7mm Type 89 machine guns or one 7.7mm Type 89 machine gun and one 12.7mm Ho-103 machine gun. All Nakajima built production Ki-43-I (Model 1) aircraft had three-digit MNs. Ki-43-I Oscar manufacture numbers were coded by adding +100 to the true serial number. For example, Ki-43-I 750 was the 650th Oscar produced. Ki-43 (Model 1) aircraft built by the Army Air Arsenal had four-digit MNs.

Ki-43-II (Type 1, Model II)
Power was provided by a Nakajima Ha-115 with a three-bladed engine. All Nakajima built production Ki-43-II (Model 2) aircraft had four-digit MNs. Ki-43-II Oscar manufacture numbers were coded by adding +5000 to the true serial number. Tachikawa Ki-43 (Model 2) aircraft had five-digit MNs.